Torre Santa Flora Hotel Relais

A peaceful, beautiful place with friendly staff. It feels like one of the few bits of paradise on earth.

The building is very old, and the bed and mattress were really bad. The bathroom was nice.

The spa was divine, with a marble whirlpool tub, stone sauna, sensory shower with lights and aromatherapy, and a herbal tea corner. The pool area was also lovely and well maintained, with loungers and a gazebo. The grounds, including the English lawn, were immaculate. Prices seemed average, and I highly recommend the place. I stayed six nights. The staff were extremely friendly, and the room was cleaned meticulously every day. Towels and sheets were changed promptly. Breakfast was top-notch, with a variety of sweet cakes made by the property's restaurant.

The restaurant looks lovely, the staff were competent and unobtrusive, and the food was good. Wine and desserts were excellent. But for that price I expected more from the much-praised meat. In the homeland of Chianina beef, it should be close to perfect, yet mine was stringy and hard to chew. Breakfast was continental, with cold cuts, cheese, eggs, pastries, croissants not made in-house, cereal, and fruit. It would help to have a dedicated staff member, since the waiter had to divide his time between making cappuccinos and reception, which meant long waits. A shame. It's a beautiful and unusual property. The junior suites are in a separate tower, with the Arno River flowing in front, and have large medieval-style rooms with in-room whirlpool tubs, though these aren't Jacuzzis as their website says. I noticed a few things that could be better: some light switches didn't work, and the TV felt small given its distance from the bed and table. Prices are a little high for what's offered. Look for special deals, as saving money made it easier for me to overlook some details. Otherwise, a good bottle of wine can help.